Jazzy T one to beat from a couple of angles

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Whether you are a speed figure player or a trip handicapper, all signs point to Jazzy T getting back on the winning track when she takes on six other fillies and mares under allowance and optional-claiming conditions in Friday’s $51,000 main event at Gulfstream Park.

Jazzy T has improved dramatically from a Beyer Figure standpoint since joining trainer Bobby Dibona’s barn via the claim box in July. In her three starts for Dibona, Jazzy T has posted Beyers of 74, 75 and 75, winning the first two of those outings by 5 1/2 and 2 1/2 lengths before finishing a hard-luck second in her most recent start.

Trip players have to be awaiting Jazzy T’s return after watching her finish second despite walking out of the starting gate then being forced to rally extremely wide turning for home. She fell 1 1/4 lengths short of catching the 3-2 favorite and stakes-placed Love Her Lots, to whom Jazzy T conceded eight pounds.

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The decided lack of pace in Friday’s headliner is likely to find Jazzy T closer to the lead than she’s been in recent starts if she’s able to leave with the others this time. Jazzy T actually showed a turn of early foot in some of her earlier races, winning her maiden in wire-to-wire fashion in her 2022 debut, and winning her never-won-three condition from just off the lead when making her first start for Dibona on July 31.

Marvelous Marlene is also a filly trip players might try at what would be a much more lucrative price in Friday’s headliner. Marvelous Marlene was in trouble right from the outset when she and Jazzy T met under similar conditions on Sept. 10. Marvelous Marlene checked over heels from tight quarters into the opening turn and finished nearly nine lengths behind Jazzy T. The outing was just the second for Marvelous Marlene after returning from a 23-month layoff in August.

Flying Black and Maria’s Revenge, third and fourth behind Love Her Lots and Jazzy T on Sept. 10, also return, with Lady Dominance, Nana Fanny, and Vigil Anna completing the field.

‘Showgirl’ training on Tapeta

The Tapeta track is usually closed for training here on Wednesdays, but it was open this week to accommodate the undefeated 2-year-old filly Showgirl Lynne B, who is using the track to prepare for a start in next month’s Breeders’ Cup.

Trainer Bob Hess said his first option for Showgirl Lynne B is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, but if she doesn’t make the field, he is willing to try her on the dirt in the Juvenile Fillies.

Showgirl Lynne B breezed an easy five furlongs over the Tapeta in 1:02.73, shading 24 for the final quarter while never asked for her best. The drill was the third over the Tapeta track for Showgirl Lynne B, all similarly orchestrated, since she won a restricted allowance race going 6 1/2 furlongs by a neck making her turf debut at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 8. Showgirl Lynne B had captured the 5 1/2-furlong Sharp Susan Stakes over the synthetic track here just 19 days before her Kentucky Downs win.

“I’m a big fan of the synthetic, especially with younger horses, as long as they keep it wet and tight,” Hess said. “It’s certainly been beneficial to this filly. We’ve just been doing maintenance work with her, getting her to gallop out and relax since she’s going long next time. There’s no sense her blazing around there, although we’ll probably squeeze the lemon and look for a big finish and good gallop-out next week.”

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